The Balearic Health Service may activate 215 extra beds in order to respond to the increase in admissions due to respiratory viruses. In a press conference on Saturday, the Regional Ministry of Health announced that the Balearic Health Service will be able to activate 215 hospital beds during the winter months to cope with the increase in activity and admissions to the emergency departments of the islands’ hospitals due to the increase in the number of people affected by respiratory viruses, which are common at this time of year.
This activation of beds is included in the Contingency Plan (Winter Plan) to respond to the increase in healthcare activity in hospital emergency departments and primary care centres in the Balearics, which is being implemented from December onwards. This activation of beds in public hospitals includes 70 beds at Son Espases University Hospital, 57 beds at Son Llàtzer University Hospital, nine beds at Manacor Hospital, 20 beds at Mateu Orfila Hospital and 19 beds at Can Misses Hospital - will involve the hiring of professionals from different categories, such as doctors, orderlies, nurses and nursing assistants. In addition, Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, which is linked to the Balearic Islands Public Hospital Network, will have 40 additional beds.
Likewise, the Mallorca Primary Care Management will reinforce home care with a SUAP (primary care emergency service) team from 3 p.m. on Fridays to 8 a.m. on Mondays. The SUAP team consists of a doctor, a nurse and a driver. The contingency plans include various actions: speeding up the availability of beds for patients who have been discharged; hiring more healthcare personnel, mainly nurses, nursing assistants and orderlies; activating beds; increasing the hiring of on-call professionals during public holidays; strengthening diagnostic support services—microbiology, radiodiagnostics, etc.; reducing hospital scheduling to make more beds available for emergency patients; promoting home hospitalisation or referring patients to affiliated centres.
In addition, contingency or winter plans provide for coordination between healthcare centres, primary care and SAMU 061 to ensure maximum care capacity and establish internal referral circuits at specific times. In specific cases, emergency patients may be referred from one hospital to another, under the coordination of SAMU 061, to ease the burden on care services.
According to the Regional Ministry of Health, the general trend for the coming weeks is an increase in the presence of respiratory viruses—influenza and respiratory syncytial virus—which is common at this time of year as a result of seasonal factors. The Health Service has reminded the public of the importance of vaccination to prevent the worsening of diseases caused by respiratory infections. It is also important to wear masks in case of infection, to avoid infecting the rest of the population, to wash your hands frequently and to limit contact with the most vulnerable groups to prevent transmission, it added.
It also considered it important to bear in mind that the most appropriate healthcare resource should always be used. It pointed out that if someone has mild symptoms, they should go to primary care emergency services, which have sufficient capacity to deal with the case. The general practitioner will refer the patient to hospital if they anticipate complications in an infectious respiratory condition, it specified.